Day 2

Well, it has been a long day, but a goodie. We started off with a great brekkie across the road from the hotel and then picked up for our Big Day Out by a very funny Mexican named Juan. Juan took us to a 'landport' - like an airport for coaches. We then hopped on to another coach, driven by another funny Mexican, to head to downtown L.A. We had expected it to be very bustly, but apprently most of the parking is underground and with gyms and shops etc inside the buidlings, people don't really have to venture onto the street! It was quite bizarre!
After we had a drive around and checked out some of the buildings that have been used for movies - the driver was a mine of movie trivia! - we headed off to Universal Studios for the better part of the day. It was great. Our driver had told us the best order to do things in so that we wouldn't have to queue for long, quite a nice bonus! The fire really didn't impact on what you did there, it just cut a section out of the studio lot tour. The best ride was the Mummy ride. Barb went on it on her own first, but then managed to convince Brett that it was not a horrible scary roller coaster and went back through again with him - and yes, he was pleased he went on as it was very cool. The best show - even though the movie was tedious - was Waterworld. Heaps of stunts and pyrotechnics - a special effects plane actually crashed into the pool in front of us! After several hours at Universal, it was back on the bus - next stop Hollywood. Unlike downtown L.A., Hollywood was bustling. Street performers and people everywhere! Checked out the stars on the Walk of Fame (don't know what Donald Trump did to get one - maybe just paid for it) and the hand and foot prints outside the Chinese Theatre. Went into a shop that had 30,000 pairs of shoes and didn't buy any - can't fill the suitcase too early :-)
Back on the bus and off for a cruise down Sunset Strip and then down Rodeo Drive, which is apparently the second most expensive shopping street in the US (after 5th Avenue in New York). Didn't see any movie stars, but plenty of posh cars and beautiful boutiques. We then drove through Beverly Hills and back to the hotel.
Our technology frustrations have continued, not only is the phone not working, but the camera ran out of battery before we even arrived at Universal Studios, sigh... So it was back to the disposable camera for the day, we'll have to wait and see what comes out. Once the battery has recharged, we might have something interesting from today to upload for you from the early shots anyway.
Off to Amsterdam tomorrow - via London, hopefully the phone will work and we will be in-communicado again.